Did you receive your RN from any of the Maricopa CC's in Phoenix?

I'm going to be attending one of the Maricopa community colleges in Phoenix for my RN (don't know when, on wait list). I was curious if you had any info on which campus/program is better or worse, what you thought, any advice or tips you want to share for success, etc.

Specifically, I'm interested in taking one of the acccelerated programs and wanted info on that, particularly what the time committments are like. How many days a week did you attend class/clinicals? Did you get the normal school breaks off (i.e. winter, spring break)? Can you work? (I was assuming not).

Wow, how funny. I just logged in today. I attend Block 3 GCC for the ADN program and just got my LPN in July. I also just withdrew from the program. There are soooo many changes and they are no longer offering the LPN to ADN advanced placement program. They may be now if you have already applied but in 6 months, they are phasing that whole thing out.

I would NOT suggest the GCC part time Friday/Saturday program. It's a long story that would make you cry. But they do have a good program called the Banner program. Banner is a chain of hospitals but it is a full time program. So you go during the week like 3-4 days and it follows the regular semester hours. It is consistent and worth it if you can do that program.

I have not heard or seen any problems with the traditional program. I believe they have the structure and support they are supposed to have. Seems like it may just be the part time program. I will tell you that they just had a change in the head of the department of nursing and for a minute we didn't even have one. And she is temporary because she is actually a Block 4 instructor. I only mention it because if you are having problems contacting her, it's because she's bogged down with so much to do but there are other staff members to speak to. There are other coordinators, you wouldn't necessarily talk to her anyway. And she isn't the problem either, there were other problems before and having the change of DON's in the middle of it all delayed them getting to the problem.

GCC's part time program is suffering because there was a change in the personnel that occurred during our program and the solution turned out to be worse, but it was unforeseeable so there's really no one to blame and the answer we are getting is: Sorry, don't know what to tell you...

I can say that it is a fresh problem and they are doing what they can, but in some areas they cannot do anything or they cannot do what they want to fast enough and a lot of students have suffered. Right now, until they fix it, it's not a good program to be in.

But sometimes you can choose a program just to get in somewhere and you get priority when transferring after the first Block, so don't give up. You may not like a program or the commute to school but if the opportunity is there, take it, then switch in the middle.

jchatlpn,
Where and how did you find out that they will no longer accept LPN placement into Block 3? Or am I miss understanding your post. I know that you can no longer sit for your LPN after Block 2, but there are a few schools that offer LPN. Breaking into Block 3 with your pre-reqs and LPN is a huge safety net plan for me. Thanks!!

At Glendale Community College, that is the new stipulation. In the middle of the nursing program, they changed the curriculum. I have completed Blocks 1 and 2, I started July 2007. I started Block 3 in July 2008. I have only one chance to fail a block and be reentered into that block because the previous nursing program before me was the last block that was able to do this curriculum I am in. This curriculum being:

We are told that we have one chance to fail a block and be reentered. If we fail again, we must begin at Block 1 again because there will no longer be an LPN Advanced Placement Program. They are no longer going to have an LPN program at the school or many, if not all, of the other MCCs, so we are told.

So, I'm in Block 3. The students who are before me in Block 2 were the last students to be offered this curriculum. When those Block 2 students become Block 3 students, and if I fail my Block 3, I can be put back into their Block 3, granted there is space which means someone in their program has to fail or transfer. If I fail Block 3 AGAIN, I have to go all the way back to Block 1. Of course, I would not. I would find an LPN to BSN program like they have at UOP. But I would have to go all the way back to Block 1 because the curriculum expired with those new Block 3 students who will continue onto Block 4. They will be the last of the students at GCC in that curriculum and everyone before them is part of a new curriculum that no longer offers the LPN cut-off. This has something to do with the possibility of LPNs being phased out or lack of interest or something.

Now, I know this because of the problems my class is having. Many of us, including my study partner, has had appointments with the DON to discuss our options. If we don't make it through this block, and we don't get re-placed, because getting re-placed is not a guarantee.....our future at GCC is done because who's going to go through Block 1 again?

Also, this is Glendale Community College that I KNOW about, the other schools I am not for sure. Right now they are still offering the LPN Advanced Placement program.....if you are an LPN, you can pass the HESI test and place into Spring 2009 as advanced placement. That's when I would be retaking Block 3. But that's the last time you can do it just like it's the last time I can do it.

That is how things stand now. BUT, to be honest with you, we've learned that they don't even seem to know what is happening. It is hard for them to stay staffed. The programs keep changing. This is what I am facing at GCC right now and believe me, if it were any different, I'd tell you and I'd be happy. Also, how is it that people are taking 2 years worth of prereqs, and then going to a program for 2 more years to end with an Associates? That is another reason they are revamping the program, I think. That's a lot of schooling for an associate degree at a community college, that amount of time equals a BSN.

I have an appt with the DON wednesday. I will find out a little more info and give it to you straight out of her mouth. I will tell you exactly what she tells me and I will ask directly about the LPN advanced placement or any LPN programs.

at glendale community college, that is the new stipulation. in the middle of the nursing program, they changed the curriculum. i have completed blocks 1 and 2, i started july 2007. i started block 3 in july 2008. i have only one chance to fail a block and be reentered into that block because the previous nursing program before me was the last block that was able to do this curriculum i am in. this curriculum being:

we are told that we have one chance to fail a block and be reentered. if we fail again, we must begin at block 1 again because there will no longer be an lpn advanced placement program. they are no longer going to have an lpn program at the school or many, if not all, of the other mccs, so we are told.

so, i'm in block 3. the students who are before me in block 2 were the last students to be offered this curriculum. when those block 2 students become block 3 students, and if i fail my block 3, i can be put back into their block 3, granted there is space which means someone in their program has to fail or transfer. if i fail block 3 again, i have to go all the way back to block 1. of course, i would not. i would find an lpn to bsn program like they have at uop. but i would have to go all the way back to block 1 because the curriculum expired with those new block 3 students who will continue onto block 4. they will be the last of the students at gcc in that curriculum and everyone before them is part of a new curriculum that no longer offers the lpn cut-off. this has something to do with the possibility of lpns being phased out or lack of interest or something.

now, i know this because of the problems my class is having. many of us, including my study partner, has had appointments with the don to discuss our options. if we don't make it through this block, and we don't get re-placed, because getting re-placed is not a guarantee.....our future at gcc is done because who's going to go through block 1 again?

also, this is glendale community college that i know about, the other schools i am not for sure. right now they are still offering the lpn advanced placement program.....if you are an lpn, you can pass the hesi test and place into spring 2009 as advanced placement. that's when i would be retaking block 3. but that's the last time you can do it just like it's the last time i can do it.

that is how things stand now. but, to be honest with you, we've learned that they don't even seem to know what is happening. it is hard for them to stay staffed. the programs keep changing. this is what i am facing at gcc right now and believe me, if it were any different, i'd tell you and i'd be happy. also, how is it that people are taking 2 years worth of prereqs, and then going to a program for 2 more years to end with an associates? that is another reason they are revamping the program, i think. that's a lot of schooling for an associate degree at a community college, that amount of time equals a bsn.

i have an appt with the don wednesday. i will find out a little more info and give it to you straight out of her mouth. i will tell you exactly what she tells me and i will ask directly about the lpn advanced placement or any lpn programs.

thank you so much for giving correct information!! my girlfriend is in this program and she has told me the exact scenario. my thoughts are with you and i hope things will smooth out soon. also thank you for bringing light the prereques for the prereques nonsence.

Totally agree that the amount of schooling should equal a BSN!! My cousin went to Grand Canyon for a BSN and had 2 years of nothing but class time then in the last 2 years began clinicals on top of classes - it's basically the same thing as what we're doing at GCC, however they count her 4 yrs as the nursing program whereas we don't begin nursing school until the last 2 yrs. BOO!